Joel Embiid

I know that it's the general consensus right now, but after watching Kansas last night there's no doubt in my mind that he's the best center prospect in the draft. He's only been playing basketball for two or three years and he's already playing at such a high level. Usually you see these "raw projects" like him having bad basketball instincts, but simply getting by because of their athleticism. Embiid clearly has NBA-level athleticism, and he also has a great basketball IQ, something I wasn't expecting before I started watching the game. He knows where to pass (he made that sick pass to Perry Ellis after he spun baseline), he makes the right defensive rotations, he gets good position both for rebounds and for posts ups, and he opens the correct way on a pick and roll. You'd be shocked how many big guys don't open up the right way, even in the NBA. He has a few moves in the post, and he's strong with the ball as he makes them. Out of all the big guys that are deemed to be "projects," I have the most faith in Embiid because he actually knows how to play and doesn't just get by with his athleticism. He's clearly made huge strides since he picked up the game, and with some more experience he can be a star.

That was an awesome pass for any big guy let alone somebody who is supposed to be considered super raw since he has only been playing a couple years. He did foul out last night and as someone who used to foul out of games coming off the bench I can say there are good and bad things to say about it. The good being that he is being very aggressive defensively. The bad news is he only played a handfull of minutes and can't help his team from the bench.

With the new rules in college it seems like they are blowing the whistle every minute of the game so that could have something to do with it. Also at the next level you get 6 personal fouls (something the NCAA should adopt) so it won't be as big an issue especially once he gets more used to playing against better competition. He is without a doubt the best center prospect in my mind as well. One play you didn't mention was where he went up with one hand and caught that oop which showed me he has natural hands.

I told my friend in the beginning of the year I wanted no parts of him (bought in to the raw sterotype). Last night swayed my opinion even though he played limited minutes. Still want to see how he does against the meat of the schedule. Villanova is a small team and their big man was in foul trouble all game, but you can see the tools. It's going to be tough, but he could sneak into that top 3 being the only legit 7 footer.

Are you joking? Basketball has been about height since the sport was created. If Embiid doesn't regress, and even manages to improve, he's the number one pick. The only thing you could argue is the three point shooting of Parker. Would you pick Kobe over Duncan? Russell's even in your pick, do you think Red would've picked Havlicek over him?

I love Embiid. I honestly think fouls will be LESS of an issue in the NBA due to the new NCAA rules ( which I hate). That being said, I think Joel has all the makings of a fantastic pick and roll defender at the next level. His ability to switch out on players 25 feet from the goal is unlike any 7 footer I've seen at the college level. I don't see him being just a defensive P and R guy like Chandler either, he has enough tools in place, that reps could render him an effective scorer beyond his athleticism and size influenced buckets.

I can't help but focus on Joel when he's on the court. You never know what he's going to do next, and of course he's still a little raw due to his inexperience, but I compared his early season stats to Andre Drummond and Steven Adams a few weeks back, and Embiid is the one who stands out, form a production standpoint.

The Battle 4 Atlantis tournament is another perfect example of his production. He did struggle with foul trouble, but for a guy who played 16 mpg he averaged...9.6 ppg 5.7 rpg 3.3 bpg...He's young, and he will figure out how to stay on the court longer and avoid fouls, and when does, he's going to be really really good...take his Atlantis stats and put him at a 30 mpg clip, and you get...18 ppg 10.7 rpg 6.2 bpg...Joel certainly has a ways to go, but what he does considering his experience level, and his flashes of the spectacular make him a top 3 guy in my mind. Depending on how much better he gets, I do honestly agree he could be in contention for #1.